Author/narrator Amy Tan takes up bird watching to counteract the negativity and discord in the world. Tan is a joy to listen to--a charming and warm presence, with a dollop of self-deprecation, as she chronicles her learning journey. She exudes joy and wonder as a hummingbird feeds from her hand. There is anguish when, to avoid spreading a disease among the Pine Siskins, she removes the feeders, but the birds continue to fly about the yard looking for food. When Tan figures out a way to stop the birds from wasting good seed, the sense of triumph she feels at outsmarting those wasteful creatures is clear. Listeners should be sure to check out the beautiful sketches by Tan included in a pdf with the audio.
Pub Date: April 23, 2024
Duration: 6 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593824726
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Haskell’s insights and sensibility are perfectly conveyed by Campbell’s acute narration.
Narrator Cassandra Campbell assumes the voice of biologist Haskell, author of The Song of Trees (2017), for an illuminating first-person tour of one of nature’s most common sights: flowers. Campbell provides momentum to a narrative that, though richly informative, could easily have become rambling and slack. “We live on a floral planet,” Haskell says, and he goes on to explain how that fact is key to our existence. Flowering plants first appeared 200 million years ago, and they enabled humans to evolve—and to survive. The narrative is loosely organized into eight illustrative categories, covering magnolias, orchids, grasses, roses, teas, and more.
Haskell’s insights and sensibility are perfectly conveyed by Campbell’s acute narration.Pub Date: March 24, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 5 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217281794
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: yesterday
An authentic performance that matches the author’s heartfelt journey.
During the several summers she works as a fire ranger in northern Alberta, Canada, Moyles maintains a delicate equilibrium with the black bears that live in the area surrounding the fire tower she’s assigned to. She’s also dealing with a complicated relationship with her brother, Brendan. The close bond the siblings had as children is undermined in adulthood by profound political differences and substance use disorders. Moyles’ Canadian accent and natural-sounding timing convey her deep-seated sense of decency and honesty. When Brendan dies, the sudden loss feels shocking, and her grief is undeniable. Moyles makes detailed and sometimes charmingly anthropomorphic observations of the bears. She sets up a camera at their favorite scratching post, names the bears based on their markings, and dubs herself an auntie to the bear cubs.
An authentic performance that matches the author’s heartfelt journey.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798318542367
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: yesterday
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